antiquity (from the Latin word meaning "ancient» - antiquus) is called the era of two great civilizations - ancient Greece and Rome.
periodization ancient
Responding to a question about what ancient society, it is necessary to know what era it existed and what period was divided this time.
generally accepted following periodization:
1. Early Antiquity - the time of origin of the Greek states.
2. Classical Antiquity - the unity between the Roman and Greek civilizations.
3. Late Antiquity - the breakup of the Roman Empire.
Considering the ancient society, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the time frame is impossible to ascertain.Greek civilization appeared before the Roman and Eastern Roman Empire existed for some time after the fall of the Western.It is believed that the era of antiquity - this time with the VIII.BC.e.on the VI.n.e., prior to the beginning of the Middle Ages.
appearance of the first states
in the Balkans in ancient times, there have been several unsuccessful attempts to create a state.It was a period of history of the ancient world.
2700-1400 biennium.BC.e.- Time of the Minoan civilization.It existed in Crete and had a high level of development and culture.It was destroyed by a natural disaster (a volcanic eruption that generated a strong tsunami) and Greek Achaeans invaded the island.
Around the XVI century BCGreece Mycenaean civilization emerged.She dies in 1200-1100 BC.e.after the invasion of the Dorians.This time is also called the "dark ages the Greek."
After the disappearance of the remnants of the Mycenaean culture begins the first period of antiquity.By the time it coincides with the end of the Bronze Age and the formation of early class society.
The Greek state was the primary civilization.It has its roots in primitive society, and until he had no previous experience of statehood.Therefore ancient society was strongly influenced by the primitive.This was manifested primarily in the religious world.The man in this period was considered as the center of the universe.Hence the main feature of antiquity - active attitude towards the world.
Life in ancient society: the structure and classes
first Greek state developed very actively.This was aided by the struggle between peasants and nobles, when the latter first tried to turn into debt slavery.In many other ancient civilizations managed to do, but not in the Greek.There demos not only able to defend their freedom, but also had some political rights.Of course, this does not mean that society in the ancient world did not know slavery.And Greece and later Rome were slave-holding states.
What ancient society and what is its structure?The primary public education was the policy of the ancient world, and the city-state.Therefore, there has developed a society quite different from other countries.Its core advocated community.Everyone held their position in it.It detects the presence of civil status.The entire population was divided into three categories: full citizens, unequal and disenfranchised.Civil status - the main achievement of the ancient society.While in other countries the population lived within the strict framework of the estates, in Greece and Rome, more important was the presence of the status of citizen.He let the demos on an equal footing with the nobility to take part in the government policy.
Roman society was somewhat different from the Greek, and had the following structure:
1. Slaves.
2. The free farmers and artisans.In the same category of the population consisted of columns.
3. Traders.
4. Military.
5. slaveholders.Here, in the first place it was the senatorial class.
science and culture of ancient society
first scientific knowledge has been obtained in ancient times, in the states of the East.This period is called prednauchnym.Later, these exercises were developed in ancient Greece.
Science ancient society - is the emergence of the first scientific theories, basic concepts, treatises and communities.At this time, there is a formation and the emergence of many modern sciences.
In its development, the science of antiquity come a long way:
1. Early stage - VII-IV centuries.BC.This time, the natural sciences and philosophy.The first philosophers, scientists mainly interested in the problems of nature and the search for the fundamental principle of all life.
2. Hellenic stage - it is characterized by the dismemberment of a unified science into separate areas: logic, mathematics, physics and medicine.This time is the highest flowering of ancient science.Created their great works of Euclid, Aristotle, Archimedes, Democritus.
3. Roman stage - the decline of ancient science.Among the most important achievements of this period can be identified Ptolemy's astronomy.
main success of science of ancient times is the formation of certain areas, the creation of the first terminology and methods of knowledge.
philosophy of ancient society and its famous representatives
There she was in VII-V centuries.BC.e.in Greece and is divided into the following stages:
1. Natural philosophy or early classics.The philosophers of that time primarily interested in questions of cosmology.Prominent representatives of: Thales, Pythagoras, Democritus.
2. Classic - is the heyday of ancient philosophy, the time in which they lived its brightest representatives: Socrates, Plato, Euclid, Aristotle.Here for the first time to replace the natural philosophy came on interest in the problem of good and evil, ethics.
3. Hellenistic philosophy - this time begins active development of philosophical thought under the influence of Greek scholars.The most famous representatives: Seneca, Lucretius, Cicero, Plutarch.There are many areas in philosophy: skepticism, Epicureanism, Platonism and Stoicism.
Influence of antiquity on modern culture
ancient Greece and Rome, poetically called the cradle of modern civilization.Undoubtedly, ancient society has had an enormous influence on the development of other countries and peoples.Science, theater, sports, comedy, drama, sculpture - do not list everything that gave the ancient world to modern man.This influence is still evident in the culture, language and way of life of many Latins and the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region.
